Algeria PM Says Ready to Relaunch Galsi Gas Project

Algeria is ready to build the proposed Galso gas pipeline to bring Algerian gas to Italy, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said during a visit to Rome.

"This is a project that we intend to relaunch as part of this new vision of security for Italy and Europe through alternative sources of energy supply from Algeria," he said.

The Galsi project has been in limbo after years of repeated delays but Italy, heavily dependent on energy imports from Russia, has been interested in securing alternative supplies in case the crisis with Ukraine escalates.

Algeria used to be Italy's biggest gas supplier but, as the North African country has earmarked increasing amounts of production for domestic use and shipped more gas to more remunerative Asian markets, volumes have declined.